Thursday, 10 May 2018

PHC Workers Nailed For Selling Free Drugs In Lagos

..As Govt Begins Rehabilitation Of General
Hospitals

By CHIOMA UMEHA

Lagos

The Lagos State Government having read riot act
against some health workers in the State’s Primary Health Centres, PHCs, who
short-change patients by selling drugs, facilities and other services which are
supposed to be provided free to the public.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who said
this at the weekend at the flag-off of the 2016 Eko Free Health Mission and the
Commissioning of the Nurudeen Olowopopo Health Centre, in Isolo Local Council
Development Area (LCDA) frowned at the untoward activities of the workers
involved, saying such illegality would no longer be condoned.

Idris further disclosed that Governor Akinwunmi
Ambode had ordered the renovation of all the General Hospitals and PHCs across
the state following the deplorable states of some of the hospitals.

Speaking at the event organised by Eko Club
International (ECI) and AMBSAM Memorial Foundation in conjunction with the
Lagos State Government, the Lagos Health Ministry boss

confirmed that some of the health workers had been
sanctioned, while investigations were ongoing on others.

According to the Commissioner, the exercise would
involve serious monitoring on the part of government, to ensure that the
extortionists are fished out and dealt with accordingly.

Idris, who also commissioned the Nurudeen
Olowopopo Health Centre donated by ECI (comprised of Lagosians in diaspora),
noted that there were lots of services and facilities provided by the
government free of charge to the people, but were being secretly and unlawfully
commercialised by unscrupulous workers.

“Reports have come to us that a lot of our workers
in Primary Health Centres are selling commodities that are provided by the
government free of charge. That is wrong! I want to sound a note of warning for
those of our staff who are perpetrating these activities to desist from them.
We heard this last week and we have investigated it. We have got those people
and they have been sanctioned. Investigation will continue and we are going to
step up our monitoring activities because the government is spending so much to
provide health care for our people.

“I think it is wrong for members of staff to start
selling what is meant for the people. Some services are provided free of
charge, but they don’t offer them free of charge,” he lamented.

Idris also said Governor Ambode had ordered the
renovation of General Hospitals and PHCs in the State, saying that the
renovation of the hospital would take place in batches. “All general hospitals
in Lagos are to be rehabilitated. We intend to do a total of 20 in all before
the end of the year. This would take place in batches as work had commenced on
five of the facilities already and another batch would be rolled out soon. We
have the approval of the governor on this matter.”

He also announced that the government would soon
come up with plans to sensitise the public on the Health Insurance Scheme which
would be implemented soon. He admonished Lagosians to avoid habits such as
smoking, drinking and the use of hard drugs, which could jeopardise their
health.

The Osolo of Isolo Kingdom, Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka?
while praising the ECI for donating the facility, said the people would benefit
from the laudable gesture. The Sole Administrator of Isolo LCDA, Hon. Oshikoya
Ambibola, said the occasion marked a turnaround in the health fortunes of the
people of her community.

Similarly, government at all levels have been
urged former president of ECI, Idowu Popoola, to emulate the club by investing
in the projects that would impact lives.

Mrs. Chioma Adanma Umeha is a journalist of over two decades experience. At the moment, she is the Health Editor of Newswatch Times, Lagos, Nigeria.
A graduate of Mass Communications from Anambra State University, Enugu, she also holds a Masters Degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos.

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About Me

Mrs. Chioma Adanma Umeha is a journalist of over two decades experience. At the moment, she is the Health Editor of Newswatch Times, Lagos, Nigeria.
A graduate of Mass Communications from Anambra State University, Enugu, she also holds a Masters Degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos.